The sad truth is that it is unlikely that anyone would participate in, let alone finance, a first time director’s take on these characters if the film’s subject wasn’t a luridly exceptional incident. An exploration of the work of the New Vision Kill Your Darlings is not, but how could it be?

Nick Lieberman reviews Barbara Kopple's Oscar-winning documentary, which plays in the Museum of Modern Art's series "Oscar's Docs 1955-2002: American Stories." The series runs from February 2nd through February 14th. Check out the rest of MoMA's lineup at http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/1350.